A Florida bill prohibiting the “intentional release of balloons” into the environment was signed into law this week.
“Ocean Conservancy has worked with Florida legislators for years to ban balloon releases, and today marks a tremendous win for our manatees, sea turtles, dolphins, birds and other marine life who have fallen victim to balloon litter.”
– J.P. BROOKER, DIRECTOR, FLORIDA CONSERVATION AT OCEAN CONSERVANCY
Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill on Monday in an effort to protect wildlife, which can often mistake balloons for food, or they can get snagged in their ribbons and strings. Before the law, Floridians could release up to nine balloons in a one-day period without being fined.
Starting July 1, sending a balloon into the sky will be considered a noncriminal littering offense, with a fine of up to $150.
According to a press release issued by the Ocean Conservancy, in nearly 40 years, volunteers have picked up more than 1.8 million balloons littering coastlines worldwide. In 2021 alone, volunteers collected 34,921 balloons globally.
“What goes up must come down, and when it comes to balloons, that can have deadly consequences for marine life. The ingestion of a single piece of balloon can potentially kill a seabird, which is yet another example of why even one intentionally released balloon is one too many,” added Brooker.
